Instructor asking for students to withdraw

Woodenpug, BSN · Oct 9, 2008

A long time ago, we had a similar situation in our LVN school. Turned out, the class was about 4 students over enrolled. Before our class, usually 5 or 6 students would drop. Just like now, the economy was not doing well. People were motivated. The stuff from the instructors was just to make sure nobody protested. Are you really convinced that your classmates are unmotivated? Some people are less able to preform well in "self-schooling."

~FutureNurse~ · Oct 9, 2008

I'm just jealous that you get to use your book during exams. IMO, how can you mess that up? Really? So, if these people are making bad grades, and they are being allowed to use their books..then yes..they should go. I mean it dosen't get any easier than that.

RhodyGirl, RN · Oct 9, 2008

Couldn't agree with you more. I've seen so many students this semester (it's our first semester of nursing courses in the BSN program) slack off....even bragging about how they don't read/study! I mean, COME ON!

We all worked hard to get into the program, and to see people not taking it seriously really irks me.

There is one student in particular in my nursing classes who gives me a hard time (pretends to be joking, but I can tell she is serious) and constantly pokes fun at me because I study so much. I guess the joke was on her when we got our grades for the second exam back yesterday....I got a B+ and she didn't even pass. Guess who's laughing now......

I am glad your professor is taking the situation into her own hands. Wish mine would.

scrublifenurse10, LPN · Oct 9, 2008

To clarify ~ we don't use our books during exams...out of all the quizzes and tests, we've only been allowed to use our books on 2. My point was that some people were not only failing the regular "have to study for" exams, but also failed the 2 open-book tests as well.

amjowens · Oct 9, 2008

I think it's important to know how to study effectively. There's a small group in my class who seem to study a lot, but don't get good grades. Then, there's the group who have a ton of other things going on in their lives, so just don't have time to study. For the most part, though, those who have figured out how to study/take nursing-style exams and who actually are committed do well. It's pretty clear and simple as to what works and what doesn't. For the most part, I think we each create our own way, and it's not so much about intructors trying to boot out people as it is personal choice re learning how to learn and/or commitment.

kimima01 · Oct 9, 2008

When I started my program, there were 40 students. My class (2nd year students) is now at 20 or so. Nursing school has a way of weeding out those who aren't serious. One of my former classmates (who flunked out of the program) believed that nursing was easy because she worked as a tech in a hospital. Boy did she get a rude awakening.

Hanna0225 · Oct 10, 2008

i can totally relate to your story...

i only have 2 weeks left in my a&p class, then will start my lvn program in november. i attend a private school, and i see quite a few young (fresh out of high school) kids in my class, goofin off, and it is so obvious that they don't even want to be there! their parents have pushed them into this, and it is really sad! my school costs $25,000... and if they can't even survive my a&p class that money is going to go down the drain for these folks, and no i wouldn't feel sorry for them at all.

it just upsets me because, these kids don't really understand how serious this profession really is. i'll be damned if they had be a nurse for one of my loved ones! to me, patient care is extremely important and slackers really get on my nerves!

NurseSarahJane · Oct 26, 2008

I am wondering if in my school, they will do the same. we have a couple of students who really dont put in the time nor the effort. they show up to class late, don't come to clinical prepared. it is extremely frustrating to those who actually want to be here and are working their butts off. it is also annoying because the professors will waste their time with these students who did not come prepared. this past week in clinical my instructor stated she was going to pair up the "weak with the strong" well that was me and i got the weakest of them all. this student did not come to clinical prepared with his hw. ended up (like he does everyweek) looking over at someone elses hw for the answers. this student still did not know how to talk to a patient. really did not know how to do a bed bath. all the while i was basically asked to assist him. how can you assist someone who obviously has not been practicing or studying? that was the most frustrating. up until this point i have ignored all of those who obviously don't take the program seriously enough. but its extremely hard when you are asked to partner up with them for that reason. thanks for letting me vent. :typing

llg, PhD, RN · Oct 26, 2008

Honestly, I'm glad to see it, because the "slackers" are not there for the right reasons (you can tell), and they are just taking valuable time from those of us that want to be there....is it wrong for me to be semi-happy about this? I mean, I'm sorry for their situations, but if they've failed every test this far, then obviously they don't really want this...right? What's your ":twocents:" on the issue? Thanks!

It's not wrong to be happy about it. Your school is enforcing a standard and insisting on quality. That's a good thing. We need more schools to do that -- rather than dumbing down the curriculum and passing the students through, taking their money and graduating new nurses unprepared to practice in the real world.

However, it might be politically unwise for you to show your happiness too much. There will probably be several students in your class who have friends among those who are dismissed from the program -- and others who squeak by on the borderline. They may resent your happiness and/or interpret any remarks you make as "gloating." You'll need to maintain good relationships with ALL of your classmates if you want to thrive throughout the rest of your program. So, be careful about alienating them with your behavior and comments in what for many of them is a stressful and sad time.

Good luck with the rest of your nursing studies.

scalyflowerz · Oct 26, 2008

I understand completely how you feel. I"m in my 2nd year and since last year we have lost about 6 people. There are still a few others that I catch cheating on exams and such, or just don't do the work and I am hoping that they will fail or something. If I was a patient I would want the most competent nurse working on me....not someone that didn't know their stuff and had to cheat to make it through school.

lainith · Oct 26, 2008

No need for anyone to request students in my program to withdraw. They have been dropping out left and right. We started with 37 students (small CC) and now have 25 of the original with two who joined at Mod B. Tuesday is our first day of clinical and I expect to see more drop after this week. Only the strong survive.